Together with the specialists Mann + Hummel, Audi is developing a filter for electric cars that collects fine dust from the environment. It is intended to improve air quality in cities both while driving and while charging. It is being tested in a four-year pilot phase and not only absorbs the particle emissions of the vehicle itself, but also those of others. Audi e-trons serve as test vehicles. So far, no negative effects on the operation of the vehicle have been detected, even on hot summer days or during fast charging.
85 percent of the particulate matter in road traffic is caused by brake, tire or road abrasion, regardless of the type of drive of the vehicle. The smallest dust particles are only a few micrometers in size and can easily be inhaled. The way the vehicle filter works is similar to that of stationary systems that are already in use in some cities.
The “Urban Purifier”, as the filter is called, is integrated into the car’s existing air duct in front of the radiator, so that only a few changes to the vehicle are necessary. That keeps costs down. The filter element is controlled via the switchable cooling air inlet. Its mechanical mode of operation is comparable to that of a vacuum cleaner. According to a similar principle, the fine dust particles get caught in the filter and the air can still flow through.
Another possibility is filtering during stationary charging. A fan that is already installed in every electric car conveys ambient air through the radiator. The system takes advantage of this process and can actively filter the air flowing through using the fine dust filter. In this way, the smallest particles are picked up even when the vehicle is stationary. The use would be ideal in the urban environment, since the fine dust pollution is much higher here than in the country.
According to Audi, the system is so effective that, depending on the usage scenario, in a highly polluted city like Stuttgart, for example, the particles in the e-tron are completely filtered out in terms of quantity. In order to make the system even more efficient, the two cooperation partners are aiming to network it with existing sensors, for example from weather stations. In addition, a display logic is to be developed in the vehicle. In this way, occupants can find out when the system is active and how much has already been filtered. (awm)